Beliefs

Our theology—what we believe and teach about God—is not innovative.

Anyone familiar with historic Christian doctrine will find that our Statement of Faith falls in the center of evangelical theology. In other words, it is biblical theology rather than speculative theology or theology rooted in tradition. We try not to be dogmatic about matters on which Bible-based believers have held divergent views. We want our core beliefs to be centered in Christ and His message as found in and supported by the clearest passages of Scripture. More obscure doctrine or teachings with less support are left to individuals to sort out in their own relationship with God.

The Bible teaches that:

There is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.(Matthew 3:16-17, John 14:9–10 & 26, 1 Corinthians 8:6)

God is the creator of humans and of all things.(Genesis 1:1, Acts 17:24-28)

The Bible is the inspired word of God and the final authority for all matters of faith and practice.(2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:105, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

All people have sinned, and as a result, are lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ.(Acts 4:12, Romans 3:23, Luke 19:10)

Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, who died for our sins and arose from the dead.(1 Corinthians 15: 1-8; John 3:16)

Salvation (the forgiveness of sins) comes by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ (his death on the cross).(Matthew 26:28, Romans 5:8-11, Ephesians 2:8-9)

The New Testament teaches that the pattern to accept God’s grace is to believe in Jesus as God’s Son and Savior of the world, repent of personal sin, confess publicly that Christ is Lord, and be immersed in baptism.(Luke 24:45-47, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-7, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 10:9)

The Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian.(John 16:5-15)

The church is the body and bride of Christ, founded on the day of Pentecost, consisting of all Christians everywhere.(Matthew 16:13-18, Acts 2:14-47)

The saved will inherit eternal life; the unsaved, eternal separation from God.(Romans 8:10-11, John 6:47)

We believe that Jesus Christ will one day return to gather His followers and reign forever as King of kings and Lord of Lords.(Mark 13:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)